Baby self feeding cutlery

Best baby and toddler cutlery sets to help self-feeding 2021

It’s an important stage in their development: holding and using cutlery allows babies and toddlers to develop their pincer grip - an essential skill for learning how to hold a pencil and write at school.

Here, using advice from mums in the MadeForMums Facebook community, we’ve picked out 10 sets that we think really stand out for something in their design.

10 of the best baby and toddler cutlery sets to for self-feeding…

1. Doddl knife, fork and spoon set, £16.95 - best for transitioning

Age: 12 months – 5 years

What it is: This quirky-looking knife, fork and spoon set is cleverly designed with ergonomic curved handles, perfect for tiny hands to feed themselves without any fuss. It’s a great starting set for toddlers, and helps them to transition more easily to using kids’ or adults’ cutlery.

Why we love it: The award-winning chunky design means the cutlery is easy to hold, which promotes independent eating - so less frustration at mealtimes and more fun! It’s a colourful design, and the shape of the smart, serrated knife teaches toddlers how to push down to cut their food. And it’s dishwasher safe which is a bonus.

Mum Emma says: “We have used the Doddl spoons and forks with our twins alongside Munchkin spoons and found them really good! They learned to use them quite quickly and always ask for their spoon or fork now.”

Available from: Doddl, Amazon and Kidly

2. Tiny Dining children's bamboo soft tip spoons - £7.99 ( for a set of 6) - best for weaning

Age: 6 months+

What it is: A selection of 6 brightly hued bamboo-handled spoons that are an ideal starting point for encouraging babies to begin feeding themselves. They're 141mm long, 34mm wide and 10mm thick. They're also organic and eco-friendly - and antibacterial.

Why we love it: They're a great starting point for babies to get to grips with (literally!) using cutlery. We especially like that, because the silicone tip is so soft and chewy, they're safe for babies to use too and gentle on teething gums.

They’re perfect for weaning with porridge or yoghurts to encourage independent feeding. The bamboo is sustainable and resilient too - and although you can put them in the top drawer of your dishwasher, handwashing them will make them last longer. You can also buy adorable matching plates and bowls.

Mum Tara tells us: "The spoon bit is rubbery so nice and soft and good for baby/toddler to chew on without getting sore gums. We have it in the drawer from when our daughter was much younger and it still looks as good as new."

Available from: Rinkit

3. Constructive Eating 3-piece construction cutlery set, £16.99 - best for fussy eaters

Age: 12 months +

What it is: A brilliantly fun, incredibly designed knife, fork and spoon set that looks more like toys than it does cutlery. It's all about making mealtimes fun - and encouraging picky eaters to try the foods they otherwise wouldn't.

Why we love it: What's not to love? There's the fun element of the design that encourages kids to stay at the dinner table for longer and try new foods. More so if you opt for the creative construction site plate too, complete with parking spaces and mine shafts.

This set also helps children to develop fine motor skills and independent feeding. There's a ‘fork lift’ fork, a front loader spoon (ideal for pushing fiddly food such as peas onto) and a bull dozer pusher. There are fairy and dinosaur versions too.

More like this

Mum Helen says: “My little boy was a choosy eater and would want to jump down from the table as soon as possible. When a friend bought him this set, it changed mealtimes for us. It even encouraged him to eat broccoli!”

Available from: Urban Gifts

4. Munchkin toddler fork and spoon set - £3.49 - best for grown up eating

Age: 12 months+

What it is: A fun spoon and fork set that's aimed at developing toddlers' self-feeding skills and transitioning them to kids' cutlery and encouraging independent eating.

Why we love it: Made from metal with a colourful handle, this set is great for little ones who like eating just like mummy and daddy.

While the tips are made from metal, the colourful curved handles are ergonomically designed, which means they are made especially for small hands to grip.

The spoon is deep, so scooping up more food is easier, while the fork has sharper (but not too sharp!) prongs, to help them pick up food.

They also come in 3 hues - blue, green, pink - with a cute swirly pattern - and are dishwasher safe. Mum Rebecca says: “We have the Munchkin fork and spoon set, metal and rubber/plastic handle.

“We've had no issues with them they feel nicely weighted and both boys can use them easily and they're reasonably priced and long lasting.”

Available from: Uber Shop

5. Martin Gulliver Blue Star children’s four-piece cutlery set, £28 - best for stylish eating

Age: 2 years

What it is: A beautiful 4-piece boxed toddler knife, fork and double spoon set that's made from stainless steel with a plastic handle featuring a pretty design. Choose from polka-dots or a cute farmyard scene that will brighten up any dinner table.

Why we love it: This is a special gift-worthy set that's practical too. It's ideally aimed at older toddlers who have already got to grips with the beginning stages of self-feeding, and who are now honing their eating skills.

You can also buy matching bowls, cups and plates to make mealtimes feel extra special. Helpfully, the set is dishwasher safe. Mum Jenny says: “Ooh I love kids cutlery and plates. I really loved the metal forks that came with their plate sets from John Lewis, the Martin Gulliver sets.

"I also like the plastic Ikea ones but I find with forks they needed something a bit ‘sharper’ to actually stab the food."

Available from: eBay

6. Nuby Suregrip stainless steel cutlery, £4.99 - best for mealtime fun

Age: 12 months +

What it is: A quirky fork and spoon set that’s not only been created to help small hands get to grips with feeding themselves, but also features a cute cosmic design, to make mealtimes extra fun. Comes in blue or pink.

Why we love it: With stainless steel tips, this adorable set is a great stepping stone to the real thing. The silicone handles are chunky and easy to grip, meaning self-feeding becomes easier.

Helpfully, the handles are wipe clean, and - this is our favourite bit - they both have a hygienic stand to prevent too much food ending up on the table. Genius!

Mum Ally tells us: "We have the Nuby set and a set we got from Aldi - both metal with plastic handles and she can use them much better than some plastic ones her grandma got.” (Sorry grandma!)

Available from: Nuby

7. NumNum pre-spoon Gootensils, £21.25 - best for early starters

Age: 6 months+

What it is: A unique flat-headed 2-spoon set that's ideal for babies taking their first self-feeding steps. The incredibly clever design makes these easier to hold than a spoon, and they’re perfect for starter foods such as purees, porridge and yoghurts.

Why we love it: The clever pre-spoon makes self-feeding easier as the food balances on it, rather than needing little ones to have already learned how to scoop it up. It also has raised textures to help soothe sore gums.

Once babies have learned how to bring the spoon to their mouth, they can use the second one, which is for thicker foods.

Mum Carol advises: "I used these with my little girl when she first started weaning. It wasn't long before she got the hang of it and was feeding herself. Now she's nearly 3, she still likes to use them as the design is so quirky."

Available from: Fishpond

8. Ikea Kalas 18-piece cutlery set, £1.25 - best for budget

Age: 12 months +

What it is: 6 different coloured 3-piece cutlery sets that are safe to use in the dishwasher and microwave, which means they're durable, and are great hand-me-downs for the next sibling.

Why we love it: You can't beat these for value for money and longevity. They're designed with young hands in mind, and are easy to grip.

The knives have blades with serrated edges - great for encouraging kids to cut their food independently. The bright colours also add a touch of fun to mealtimes and are perfect for picnics too.

Mum Jenny says: “I’ve had these for ages and they come up spotless in the dishwasher every time, and the colours don’t fade.

“I love mixing up the colours for my 2 and 5 year olds’ mealtimes - and there are plenty to go around when friends come over too.”

Available from: Ikea

9. Skip Hop 2-piece cutlery set, £7 - best for fuss-free eating

Age: 12 months +

What it is: A seriously cute fork and spoon set with stainless steel heads and oversized handles featuring baby unicorns or cheeky monkeys. They do exactly what it says on the tin!

Why we love it: They're straight-forward and simple, and are the perfect size for little hands to hold and feed themselves. The design isn’t fussy, with rubber bumps on the side so they're easy to grip.

Mum Fran says: "I found the Skip Hop [cutlery] really good when Pippa started to feed herself as she could easily get food on the fork. Now she's nearly 3, she still uses it."

Available from: John Lewis and JoJo Maman Bebe

10. Oxo Tot fork and spoon set, £7 - best for no mess on the floor

Age: 12 months+

What it is: A 2-piece cutlery set designed to help littles ones successfully get the food from their plates into their mouths, all by themselves.

Why we love it: The clever design of this fork and spoon set includes a flat spot on the chunky, smooth handles, that stops them from rolling off the table - meaning less food ends up on the floor.

The fork prongs are smooth, so it's a great first utensil to help toddlers learn how to feed themselves.

Mum Gill tells us: "It's a really cute design, but what I really loved was that the flat part of the handle stops these from slipping into bowls and getting covered in food. "

Available from: Oxo and John Lewis

Baby and toddler cutlery sets – what to look out for

What to look for when buying a cutlery set for your baby or toddler depends on their age.

Self-feeding cutlery at 6 months+

When they've just started weaning at 6 months, babies will be much more interested in experiencing new tastes than holding cutlery.

By lining up a couple of baby spoons, they'll be able to grab them, and copy mummy or daddy when they're ready.

Self-feeding cutlery at 12 months +

For 1 to 2-year-olds, think about introducing a fork, and give them food they can practice stabbing. But they'll also still be using their fingers too.

Self-feeding cutlery at 2 years +

When they reach 2, you can start to introduce metal cutlery as well as kid-proof knives. Opt for ones that encourage grip and fine motor skills.

Before you know it, they'll be feeding themselves with no help from you!

Pics: From product websites

Read more

Everything you need to know about feeding your toddler
Healthy snacks for your toddler
Help! How do I get my toddler to eat more vegetables?

3 Best Toddler Utensils for Self Feeding in 2022

Feeding Babies & Toddlers

ByJosten Fish, Registered Dietitian

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click & make a purchase, I receive a commission! Read my full disclosure policy.

Toddler utensils are a great way for your child to start learning how to feed themselves. There are so many different utensils on the market, but what does your toddler actually need? In this post, I’m sharing my favorite 3 sets of the best toddler utensils for self-feeding!

By the way, this is my favorite silverware set for toddlers – the one we use in our own home!! But read on for more of my top recommendations.

When should toddlers start using utensils?

We start giving our kids utensils, especially a silicone spoon like this that works well for dipping, at 6 months old. But in general, a child should be practicing using utensils by the time they are eating solid foods. If you’re looking for more on the best baby-led weaning gear (including utensils!) check out this post.

Even though they won’t be proficient in self-feeding with utensils until they are older, it can help babies learn hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills if you start early.

How to Choose the Best Toddler Utensils

Toddler utensils come in all shapes and sizes, with a variety of different functions. When choosing the best toddler utensils for your child, you’ll want to consider:

The age of your child. – A 6-month-old baby may fair best with this flexible silicone spoon for dipping, although I certainly gave my kids regular spoons to play with at this age as well. However, a 3-year-old is going to want some sturdier silverware.)
Material of the silverware. – I prefer to avoid plastic in general, but I especially find a plastic fork doesn’t work well. For toddlers, I prefer small stainless steel silverware which mimics normal sized silverware either with or without larger plastic/stainless steel handles. For young babies, I prefer soft silicone spoons for dipping and then phasing into stainless steel.
The type of food your child is eating. – I think it goes without saying that you can’t eat yogurt with a fork very well.
The size and shape of the Utensils. – Obviously, this can influence how they hold on to the utensils. Larger handles may be best for younger toddlers as they work to develop their self-feeding skills.

3 Best Toddler Utensils for Self Feeding

Adult silverware and utensils may be too challenging for your little one to hold and self-feed. You may find your toddler has an easier time with smaller-sized silverware. Here are my top 3 favorite toddler utensil sets.

1. Best Toddler Utensils Stainless Steel: Exzact Children’s Silverware

This is the set we use and love for our toddlers. It comes with 2 full sets of utensils (fork, knife, and spoon) that is exactly like an adult set which I love. If you are looking for utensils for an older toddler like a 3 year old I definitely think it’s the set to choose although we start our kids on it much younger than that (around 1 year old.)

2. OXO Tot Fork & Spoon Set

The handles on this set are a little bigger than the stainless steel set above which may make it easier for a younger toddler just learning to self-feed. However, I do love that the fork is still made of stainless steel which makes it easier to actually pick things up with the fork. You can also buy it as a travel set which could be very convenient.

3. Bumkins Utensils Silicone and Stainless Steel

I love that these are stainless steel with silicone handles to make it easier for grabbing and self-feeding. The suggested age for these is 18 months, but if you feel comfortable you could certainly start with self-feeding before that.

What utensils should a toddler use?

While having the best utensil for your toddler can certainly make it easier for them to self-feed, many toddlers enjoy playing with and using adult silverware (with appropriate supervision.) So, it’s really up to you and your child which silverware you choose. As long as they’re safe, have fun with it!

Can a 2-year-old use a fork?

A 2-year-old should be using toddler utensils like a fork and spoon to practice self-feeding. However, they may not be proficient until they are older (especially for a fork,) and they may continue to pick up food with their hands at this age.

What are the best utensils for a 1-year-old?

Again, it’s really up to you and your child’s abilities. Many parents prefer the OXO tot or Bumkins silverware for 1-year-olds, but I did let my kids use this Exzact stainless steel silverware set at age one.

What is the best baby cutlery or silverware?

If you are looking for the best baby utensils, be sure to check out my post on my favorite baby-led weaning essentials. However, in addition to the ola baby spoon I personally just simply started my babies out on the silverware mentioned above.

Other Helpful Resources on Toddler Feeding

10 Best Non Plastic Cups for Toddlers

My 3 FAVORITE Smoothie Cups for Kids

8 Best Snack Cups for Toddlers

Complete Guide to Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

Sharing is caring!

FREE Toddler SnackPrintable& Grocery List

Opt in to receive news and updates.

Simplify feeding your toddler with these free guides. Sign up for my email newsletter below.

How to teach a child to eat by himself: teaching him to eat with a spoon

› ›

Publication date: 06/07/2015. Article updated: May 14, 2021

Photo: depositphotos.com. Author: kolinko_tanya.

At the age of 7-8 months, the baby begins to take a keen interest in what is in the plate, puts his hand on it, tries to grab the spoon that he is being fed. In this way, the baby signals the desire to learn how to eat on his own. This is an important moment in the development of the child, and should not be missed. Encourage such aspirations and give the child the opportunity to try to eat on their own - meeting the needs of the baby stimulates his development. nine0003

Mastering the skills of independent eating is not easy, and adults will also need a remarkable reserve of patience: shouting and attempts to “bribe” cannot teach anything, but only harm. Here are some tips.

Content

A pleasant atmosphere
Boredom is an enemy
Simple cutlery
Power feeding - only with a spoon of
Feeding
without coercion and overfeeding
Child has the right to stain
Spill-proof introduction

Pleasant atmosphere

Make sure that there is a comfortable atmosphere while eating. Nutrition in a child should be associated with pleasure.

It is important, whenever possible, to sit down at the table with the whole family: such moments from the point of view of the development of the baby are simply priceless.

Boredom is the enemy

A six-month-old baby does not like being bored. Even when he eats, the hands must be busy with something. Do not take toys away from your child during feedings - this can be perceived as a punishment associated with food. nine0003

Don't force a one year old to sit at the table for a long time: it's beyond his strength, especially since there are so many interesting things around! Let your fidget eat quickly, in haste. But remember the importance of territorial boundaries: do not let your child walk around the house with food, teach him to eat only in the kitchen.

Plain cutlery

If you want to teach your child how to use a spoon, which should be similar to an adult, only smaller. It is good if the first teaspoons are made of soft plastic. nine0003

Don't buy oddly shaped items or with a handle at a steep angle to the base. This may facilitate feeding, but does not contribute to the normal development of the jaw and muscles of the mouth.

Complementary foods - only with a spoon

Give soups, cereals or desserts exclusively from a spoon. The chewing and swallowing reflex develops around 6 months of age. Do not use this moment justified only if the introduction of solid food into the diet of the baby for some reason was postponed by your pediatrician. nine0003

Bottle feeding is convenient, but resist the temptation to give your baby anything other than milk through a nipple. Spoon feeding will teach him to take food with his lips, help him quickly master the correct movements of the lower jaw, and these are skills necessary for self-feeding.

Place a teaspoon in the baby's mouth in a horizontal position and take it out in the same way. This method of feeding forces the mouth to be closed in order to grasp food - this is how the muscles of the lips develop and strengthen, which prevents salivation. nine0003

Frequent and smooth opening/closing of the child's mouth contributes to the correct development of speech and is necessary for the pronunciation of certain sounds.

Two-Handed Feeding

Hold a spoon in your baby's hands and put food on two plates at once: let the baby eat on one, and you will feed him on the other.

You can also ask the baby to try to feed you. If he still does not know how to pick up food, give him an already filled spoon in his hands. Praise every successful attempt, ignore failures. nine0003

Without coercion and overfeeding

Photo: depositphotos.com Author: joruba75

Do not force a spoon into a child's mouth. If the first attempt at introducing a new food fails, wait a few days before trying again. Remember: if the baby refuses some food over and over again, it may be harmful to him. Or you just don't like the food. After all, not all dishes are to the taste of parents either.

Do not force your baby to eat more than he can and wants, do not fight with him for every sip and bite - it will only hurt. A healthy baby knows when he is hungry or thirsty. Coercion is the first step towards turning the crumbs into a little “not wanting”. nine0003

When a newborn is breastfed, he is allowed to eat as much as he wants. The same principle should be used when introducing new foods into the diet, and later when you are trying to teach a young child to feed himself.

The child has the right to get dirty

Do not forbid him to have fun with food. Knowledge of the world occurs through a variety of sensations. From about 8-9 months, the baby usually shows a desire and makes attempts to put food in his mouth with a pen - let him do it. nine0003

If your child doesn't want to wear a bib, just change them into smaller clothes for meals. Be patient and understanding, don't shout or insult. A soiled suit, a table and a floor - all this will be washed and wiped off, but a trace of negative emotions will remain in the soul of a little man.

Introducing a non-spill cup

As early as the seventh month, you can teach your baby to drink from a non-spill mug. If you are breastfeeding, do not give extra liquid from a bottle with a nipple - drink directly from a non-spill bottle. So, step by step, you will teach your baby to drink from a regular cup. And be sure to show by example how it's done. nine0003

Share with friends:

Author: Yakusheva Tatyana

How to teach a child to eat with a spoon on his own. 7 tips for parents

Elizaveta Shatunova

Author Daily Baby

#skills #development

Giving a one-year-old baby a spoon in his hands is like arming himself with a brush for the first time in his life and trying to paint a picture. The first time a masterpiece will not work. Watching a baby try to "tame" a spoon will be fun and sad at the same time. Perhaps at some point, mother will be overwhelmed by real despair. But mission accomplished. Let's talk about how to teach a child to eat with a spoon on his own. Is there any standard procedure here? nine0003

When can a baby feed on its own?

There are no clear age limits in the matter of teaching a child to use a spoon. Some of the children are already 1.5 years old deftly wielding cutlery. And the other, even at 3 years old, looks at the spoon with discontent, because eating with your hands is much more fun.

As pediatricians say, a child closer to a year is already quite capable of holding a spoon in his hands and even bringing it to his mouth without unnecessary loss. Children usually start eating on their own at the age of 1.5-2 years. This is what we are focusing on. However, without fanaticism, it does not hurt to take into account the peculiarities of the development of the child. It is important to make sure that the baby is ready to master the complex science of an independent meal. It is believed that there are a number of signs that will make this clear:

The child eats cookies or, for example, pieces of fruit. His movements are more or less coordinated.
The child tries to stick his hand into the plate of food in order to pull it into his mouth.
The child tries to take the spoon away from the mother or holds her hand during feeding.

Cutlery to teach the child to eat independently

Any plate that the child will eat from. It's more about ergonomics and "prevention" of excess dirt. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase special plates - they are plastic, so they will not break if they fall, with high edges, some are even attached to the table and “work” according to the principle of non-spills. nine0003

A set of children's dishes made of bamboo fiber

But the choice of the main tool - a spoon - you have to think about. Iron, even if it is small, at first it is better not to use it. It is hard, heavy and cold. The child may refuse to eat this. Baby spoons made of plastic, latex or silicone are the best option. They have a special grip for small fingers, they are soft, bright and can even bend - all for the convenience of accustoming to an independent lunch. There are even spoons with a temperature sensor that will tell you when the food has cooled down enough. nine0003

Fork and Spoon Set

The so-called Pre-Spoon may come in handy in this difficult task. This one has holes and special grooves with grooves that allow you to “dosing” porridge, which means there will be much less dirt around, and the baby himself will not choke on too large a portion. In general, all that is required of the child is to dip the spoon into the puree and bring it to the mouth. An excellent option for early accustoming children to independent eating - can be used from six months. nine0003

NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils | Baby Spoon Set

3 stages of accustoming a baby to a spoon

Conventionally, the entire path of accustoming a child to a spoon can be divided into separate stages: during feeding. But in most cases, it is too early to insist that the baby master the technique of independent handling of cutlery. Coordination of movements is not developed at all. nine0003

But experts advise not to strongly limit the child to grab food from the plate directly with his hands. And the table, and clothes, and he himself will have to be washed later.

But the baby has to understand the process - now the food was on the plate, and now it's in his mouth. It will be easier for him to master the skill of handling a spoon in the future. This does not mean that from now on you can let the child "pick" with his hands in the porridge. But he can be allowed to take small pieces of food directly from the plate. nine0003

And it's time to introduce the child to his own first spoon. He, of course, had already seen cutlery in the hands of his parents. But let him hold his beautiful spoon in his hands - feel it, taste it. You can let the baby hold it while mom feeds.

8-10 months

It's time to introduce family dinners. Let the child see how adults eat - very soon he himself will want to take a spoon in his hand. Copy method in all its glory. And even without family dinners, you can arrange “master classes” for the baby - mom should show more often how to handle a spoon. The child, of course, still understands little, but the training will not be in vain. nine0003

If the baby is already reaching for a spoon with might and main, you should not refuse him. There will be no good coordination of movements yet, but this is a good start - you can always help the child bring the spoon to his mouth.

After 10 months

The copy method still works. Therefore, as often as possible, we remind the child how to eat on their own, showing it by example. Even if earlier he did not show much interest in the spoon, very soon he will definitely require his personal cutlery in order to learn how to eat himself. nine0003

There are more and more solid foods and thick cereals in the diet. It's time to feed the child from special dishes, this will further push him to "experiment" with an independent meal. Now you can constantly feed the baby like this - one spoon from the mother, the other from him. The child will certainly reach for the plate with it - let him try, it is undesirable to forbid.

But situations when by the year a spoon for a child is just a bright toy should not be allowed. By the age of one, the baby should understand that this item is intended exclusively for food. nine0003

If you understand that the baby is already ready to study the process of "plate - spoon - mouth" in more detail, you can partially move on to independent meals. We coordinate the movements of the child, holding his hand. Most likely, the baby will not master the whole plate - at first it will be hard for him. And the process itself will be dirty for a long time. You need to be prepared for the fact that even from the 50th time the child will not be able to eat cleanly.

7 tips for teaching your child to eat with a spoon

The main rule in teaching a child to use a spoon is patience on the part of adults. Parental cries will not help the baby coordinate their movements. On the contrary, he will only have a negative attitude towards unyielding cutlery, which means that the process will become more difficult. Therefore, we are immediately preparing for frequent cleaning and washing, without this it will not do.

What are some tips to help your baby get used to a spoon faster?

Let the child be independent

Yes, it is much easier for a mother to feed her child herself - no dirty clothes and no extra time to clean the kitchen. But in this way you can discourage the baby from learning new things. Of course, sooner or later, he will still start eating on his own, but this will have to wait much longer. nine0003

Therefore, we do not impede the child's development and allow him to "tinker" with the spoon if he wants to.

Choose the right foods for the first "experiments" with a spoon

Not all foods are suitable for teaching a child to use a spoon. It is advisable to choose puree-like food - it is easier to hook it with a spoon and bring it to your mouth. Fruit and vegetable purees, yogurts, cereals. To prevent the child from soiling everything around, do not fill the plate to the brim. It is much more practical to periodically report food when the baby copes with the previous portion. nine0003

And as experts say, it's better to start accustoming a child to a spoon with his favorite food. Perhaps the baby will be more willing to eat on his own if he has fruit curd in front of him, and not the healthy broccoli puree that mom insists on.

Wait until the child is hungry

When the child is hungry, he will handle the spoon with much more diligence. Therefore, you should not seat the child at the table and teach him how to handle a spoon when he has recently eaten. Most likely, the process for him will turn into a game of “throw porridge at the wall”, and not into a full meal. nine0003

Supplement feeding

At the beginning of learning to eat independently, a child will spend maximum energy on this process. There is a high probability that after 4-5 spoons he will literally become exhausted and lose interest in food. While you should not expect records from the baby - supplement if he ate little. After a couple of months of practice, this is no longer required.

Keep a routine and create rituals

Routine and rituals are the basis of everything when it comes to teaching a child something new. It is desirable that breakfast, lunch and dinner take place at the same time - this is the consolidation of positive attitudes. The child will know that it is time to eat, which means that there will be a spoon in his hands. And the usual rituals - a bib, cutlery on the table - will help the baby tune in to the fact that an independent “struggle” with porridge lies ahead. nine0003

Be consistent

If you have already decided that from now on you will start actively teaching your baby to eat on his own, do not break your own rules. It should not be that for breakfast you spoon-feed your child, and at lunch you insist that he must eat porridge without your help. And it is desirable that mom, dad and numerous grandparents act together. Otherwise, the child will quickly “feel” the situation - the mother insists on a spoon, but you can be capricious with the grandmother.